Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Tuesday questioned the Government in Parliament on the measures being taken to address the economic pressures faced by the public, citing the weakening Rupee, rising cost of living, income inequalities and increasing financial hardship.
Raising a question under Standing Order 27(2), Premadasa said the country was facing significant economic challenges and sought clarity on the Government’s strategic approach to both macroeconomic and microeconomic management.
He requested details on the reasons behind the continued depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee, the Government’s policies on the matter, and the short, medium and long-term measures being implemented to stabilise foreign exchange markets and ensure currency stability.
Premadasa also asked the Government to outline the challenges it faced in managing the economy and explain the steps being taken to reduce the burden on citizens affected by the current economic conditions.
He said a large majority of people in the country were under pressure due to the prevailing situation and called for details of programmes aimed at easing hardships faced by middle and low-income families.
The Opposition Leader further noted that many households were burdened by debt and facing severe financial strain, urging the Government to explain whether it had a plan to address growing indebtedness among the public.
Premadasa also sought details on measures to strengthen contributions to GDP through the agriculture, services and industrial sectors, while requesting district-wise poverty data and clarification on whether current poverty indicators reflected the ground reality and present-day cost of living.
“The people of this country are facing extremely difficult conditions. The Government must explain what steps are being taken to provide relief,” he said. (Newswire)